Toy helicopter



Dec. 23, 1952 H. l.. TQM 2,622,367

- froY HELICOPTER Filed oen-15, 1949 INVENTOR. HARRY L. 70M

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED gSTATES PATENT OFFICE f f TOY HELICOPTER Harry L. Tom, San Francisco, Calif.

Application October 15, 1949, Serial No. 121,475

2 Claims.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of an entertaining and instructive toy simulating a helicopter that will rise and glide when energized with manual power and released for air flight.

Another object is to so design and construct the toy that it may be easily and cheaply fabricated from molded plastic material that is light in weight and strong enough to withstand the strain of the power winding operation and the shock of landing by gravity when the power is exhausted.

A further object is to facilitate the application of the winding string to the propeller shaft.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses. In the specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form; because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims following the description.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View from above of a toy helicopter constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail -of the string for winding the propeller shaft.

Referring to Fig. 1 the structure comprises the four bladed propeller having the hub I and the blades 2, 3, il, 5 integrally molded with the hub. The pitch of the blades is calculated to give the maximum lifting power at the available speed.

'Ihe vertical propeller shaft 5 has its upper end xed in the hub I and extends downward through the bearings l, 8 of the fuselage 9. The collars I0, II are fixed on the propeller shaft above and below the bearings l, 8 for centering the fuselage on the shaft. The lower collar II is preferably countersunk into the bearing 8 to prevent contact with the hand of the operator during the winding operation.

The fuselage is composed of the right and left concave-convex halves I2, I 3 cemented together on the longitudinal line I l and forming a hollow fuselage of minimum weight. The fuselage has the transverse opening I5 therethrough and exposing the propeller shaft between the upper and and lower bearings. The adjacent portion of the fuselage is countersunk as at I5, I6 to allow finger room for the hand of the operator during the winding operation and to reduce the weight of the fuselage.

The portion I2 of the fuselage has the rearward extension or tail I8 with the circular guard I9 with the axial hub 20. The stabilizing fan 2| is mounted within this guard on the cross pin 22. This stabilizer adds realism to the structure and acts as a rudder to aline the fuselage with the drift of the helicopter. The stabilizing fan 2l is revolved by the air thrust from the propeller blades 2-` The exposed area of the propeller shaft within the fuselage is coated with a non-drying adhesive as at 23. The motive power is applied by the string 24 having the frayed inner end 25. The outer end may be equipped with the bead 26. The string is preferably a length of strong fine rayon thread permitting the application of a considerable length of thread on the propeller shaft.

The string is applied by pinching the frayed end 25 against the lower portion of the shaft adjacent the bearing 8, between the forenger and thumb of the operator while holding the fuselage therebetween. The propeller is then rotated counter-clockwise or counterwise to the thrust of the propeller blades 2-5, until the desired amount of string is wound up on the propeller shaft 6. The arm of the operator is then raised above the level of his head and the free end of the string 24 is forcefully pulled to store torque Within the propeller shaft which starts unwinding at relatively high speed as the fuselage is released by the'operator. The thrust of the propeller blades lifts the helicopter to a considerable height before the stored torque starts diminishing. The gravitational descent of the helicopter keeps the propeller revolving and the descent is retarded thereby until it lands upon the the ground without destructive violence in a most realistic manner.

Having fully described this invention and its mode of operation what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy helicopter comprising a fuselage, having a top and a bottom and having side portions with openings formed therein to provide access to the interior of said fuselage from either side thereof for access to the propeller shaft without interference either in winding or launching, a propeller shaft journalled in and carried by the top and bottom portions of said fuselage above and below said opening, a propeller carried by said shaft, a tacky substance on said shaft between said bearings and a string for winding about said shaft to impart a torque thereto and thereby propel the helicopter, said string hav- 3 ing a frayed end for adherence to said tacky substance.

2. A toy helicopter comprising a horizontally disposed propeller, a substantially hollow teardrop-shaped fuselage having journalled top and bottom portions, a propeller shaft having its upper end fixed in the hub of said propeller and its lower portion extending through and rotatable in said journals; said fuselage further having open side portions to provide access to said shaft Without interference either in Winding or launching; a tacky substance on said shaft between said journals; a torque-providing motive means comprising a releasably-Wound string applied to said shaft, said string having a frayed end for adherence to said tacky substance; and a stabilizing tail on said fuselage having a ref The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 191,246 Nets May 29, 1877 1,135,470 Tolman Apr. 13, 1915 v2,382,347 Streater Aug. 14, 1945 2,400,704 Moore May 21, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 572,858 Germany Mar. 24, 1933 

